The report makes clear that SSGIs are one of the pillars of the European Social model.
The rapporteur, Joel Hasse Ferreira (PT - PES), criticises the European Commission approach for not being clear enough about the terminology: the European Parliament therefore calls for the European Commission to clarify concepts such as ’public services’, ’services of general interest", ’services of economic interest" and social services of general interest’.
Within this framework, the European Parliament considers that health services share the same characteristics and objectives as SSGI, while recognising their specific features.
The European Parliament also asks the European Commission to clarify the legal framework in which SSGIs operate. MEPs call for a reconciliation of social cohesion objectives and, internal market, competition and state aid.
The organisational and managerial diversity of SSGIs must be respected and it should protect the existing patterns of employement.
The final recommendation insists on the creation of a Forum, which would bring together European social organisations, representatives of the Coucil, the European Commission and the European Parliament to further the debate on the issue.
